Sunday, October 25, 2009

Net Neutrality--A Backdoor Fairness Doctrine?

At the moment, it's difficult to make heads or tails about the proposed "net neutrality" rules. However, given this administration's minimal regard for free speech and the marketplace of ideas, we're suspicious. For what it's worth, Sen. McCain has registered his opposition:

U.S. Senator John McCain has introduced legislation that would block the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from creating new net neutrality rules, on the same day that the FCC took the first step toward doing so.

McCain on Thursday introduced the Internet Freedom Act, which would keep the FCC from enacting rules prohibiting broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing Internet content and applications. Net neutrality rules would create "onerous federal regulation," McCain said in a written statement.

...McCain called the proposed net neutrality rules a "government takeover" of the Internet that will stifle innovation and depress an "already anemic" job market in the U.S.

More on the net neutrality pushback here. Visit the FCC's website for the full text of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.